Mark Clattenburg has expressed his thoughts on whether Galatasaray deserved a penalty in their UEFA Champions League match against Liverpool. Clement Turpin pointed to the spot in the 14th minute, following a collision between Baris Alper Yilmaz and Dominik Szoboszlai.
The hosts broke forward on the counter after Arne Slot’s team squandered two good chances to grab the lead down the other end. Yilmaz advanced the ball into the visitors’ area before attempting to draw it back and colliding with Szoboszlai.
The substitute right-back’s hand made contact with Yilmaz’s face, and the Turkish attacker fell to the ground, requesting a penalty. Turpin obliged, awarding Okan Buruk’s side a penalty kick, which Victor Osimhen quickly converted.
Clattenburg’s verdict on the Galatasaray versus Liverpool penalty decision
Arne Slot was visibly furious as Turpin awarded Galatasaray a penalty for Szoboszlai’s foul. Osimhen shot into the centre of Alisson Becker’s goal, with the Brazilian unable to stop the Nigerian from 12 yards, as he had previously done while the forward was at Napoli.
Clattenburg said the French referee made the correct decision and was in an excellent position to make it. He said on Amazon Prime:
“As he approaches to challenge him, his arm strikes him in the face. I believe it is a sound decision by a well-positioned referee.”
Alan Shearer concurred with the on-field decision while on commentary, and Szoboszlai didn’t complain much. Just moments previously, Liverpool came agonisingly close to grabbing the lead when Cody Gakpo attempted to follow up on Hugo Ekitike’s shot but was stopped by a goalline clearance.
Pat Nevin thinks Slot got the Szoboszlai call wrong.
Szoboszlai was one of Liverpool’s top performers at the start of the season, excelling as a stand-in right-back when Jeremie Frimpong was injured. The Hungarian’s steadiness kept him in the post in Istanbul, but Slot has been told he made the wrong decision.
Pat Nevin expressed his concerns regarding the defensive aspect of the playmakers game. Former Chelsea winger told BBC Radio 5 Live:
“That decision to play Szoboszlai at right back and not Frimpong – he has been attacked twice, done for pace and has given away a penalty.”
Szoboszlai prefers to play in central or attacking midfield, but the Reds’ summer revamp has created substantial rivalry for spots in Slot’s midfield. The Dutchman started Curtis Jones, Ryan Gravenberch, and Florian Wirtz up front, with Frimpong on the right wing to rest Mohamed Salah.
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